Tuesday, March 17, 2015

March 16, 2015 - spring specialists"Without Evan Sobiesk, MSU enters the spring without a kicker that made a
field goal last season. Westin Graves and Logan Cooke both missed their
only attempts. Both were from beyond 40 yards. The Bulldogs could
turn to punter Devon Bell. The senior began the 2013 season as MSU’s
field goal kicker. Sobiesk took over after Bell missed 8 of 14 attempts.
Bell also stated last year he had no desire to return to field goal
kicking." - Clarion Ledger

January 12, 2015 - kicker Evan Sobiesk leaves team"Evan Sobiesk is no longer on the football team a MSU spokesperson said on Monday. Sobiesk will focus on dental school. Sobiesk
made 12 of 14 field goals last year, which quieted his critics from a
shaky freshman season. In his first year he went 3 of 6. The kicker made 11 of 12 from within 40 yards in 2014. He was 1 of 2 outside of 40 yards. Sobiesk's
departure leaves Mississippi State with Devon Bell as its most
experienced field goal kicker. Bell made 6 of 14 in 2013. He didn't
attempt a kick last year. He was removed from the field goal unit in
2014 to focus solely on punting. Logan Cooke and Westin Graves both missed their only field goal attempts last year. Both tries were from longer than 40 yards." - Clarion Ledger

September 26, 2014 - kicker Evan Sobiesk"Sobiesk made a 27-yard field goal — his first attempt of the season —
in the second quarter against LSU to give Mississippi State a 17-0
lead. He then tacked on a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth to make
it 34-10. 'I really couldn't tell you what people are saying. I
don't really focus on that,' Sobiesk said. 'I'm more worried about my
performance on the field and what I can do to contribute to the team. If
I do what I know how to do, I'll be successful.' Sobiesk enters this third season with the program more comfortable in his role than he's ever been. The sophomore enjoys kicking in Davis Wade Stadium, especially after the renovation. He said the wind doesn't swirl as much. His
limit on the field is about 50 yards without any wind. Mullen probably
wouldn't send him out there for anything more than 45 yards." - Clarion Ledger

September 3, 2014 - kicking competition continues"It’s not often a position battle wages into the second week of the
season, but that’s exactly what’s been happening in Starkville over the
past few weeks. Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen remains unable to decide on a
primary place kicker between Westin Graves and Evan Sobiesk, who are
deep in competition for the job dating back to the team’s training camp
last month. Mullen had hoped to be able to decide on a kicker following
the Bulldogs’ Week 1 game against Southern Miss last Saturday, but never
got a good opportunity to assess both players. Graves was 3-of-3 on extra points, and Sobiesk was 4-of-4. The
Bulldogs only attempted one field goal for the game, a 40-yarder by
Graves, but a bad snap inhibited Mullen from accurately evaluating the
kicker or the kick. 'It’s pretty much where it was last week,' Mullen said of his kicking
battle in his weekly press conference Tuesday. 'They both went 4-for-5
in live situations (Monday) in practice so pretty much status quo at
this point.' It appears both Graves and Sobiesk will have another chance to impress the MSU coaching staff on Saturday against UAB." - Saturday Down South

August 19, 2014 -kicker J.J. McGrath departs"Mississippi State has two kickers on its roster after J.J. McGrath
left the team a school spokesperson told the Clarion-Ledger on Tuesday. The
walk-on transfer from Michigan hasn't attempted a kick in his
collegiate career. The kicking job will now come down to sophomore Evan
Sobiesk and freshman Westin Graves. Sobiesk made 3 of 6 attempts last
season. Graves has never attempted a kick in a game." - Clarion-Ledger

August 13, 2014 - kickers improve, snapping strugglesThrough two weeks of camp Mississippi State's kickers are improving. The issue is the snaps aren't. 'The
misses (Tuesday) were more attributed to the snap than anything else,'
MSU coach Dan Mullen said. 'Every kick that was made was a pretty solid
kick. By the time the ball was getting down in a really bad position
they're trying as best they can to recover it'." - Clarion-Ledger

August 4, 2014 - punting competition"Devon Bell may have thought is life would get easier once he moved exclusively to kickoffs and punter. That changed when freshman Logan Cooke arrived on campus at Mississippi State this season. 'He's
really good. He can hit some really, really good balls,' Bell said. 'I
think once he starts playing in the SEC, he will be the best punter in
the SEC.' Cooke, a freshman from Darbun, Mississippi, was one of the top high school kickers in the nation. Before fans get too excited, much like Bell, Cooke is a kickoff and punting specialist. 'I'm the head guy now. I'm still fighting for my position because Logan can easily beat me out,' Bell said. 'He's that good'." - Clarion-Ledger

June 27, 2014 - kicking competition"Evan Sobiesk:It's his job to lose or keep. MSU coach Dan
Mullen awarded the sophomore the job in the spring. He showed signs as a
freshman of being able to make a kick. But the more he played the more
his consistency suffered.... The same kind of habits reappeared in the spring. Sobiesk made kicks from 45+ but then would miss from around 30. Mullen
and Sobiesk believe a lot of the struggles are more mental than
anything the kicker is doing wrong physically. Sobiesk will be given an
opportunity in the fall to correct them.... Devon Bell: Right now Devon Bell is a punter and a kickoff guy. He won't be kicking any field goals. The key word may be right now.... J.J. McGrath:Mississippi State doesn't list McGrath on
its updated roster. He is still expected to walk-on for the Bulldogs
this fall. McGrath's Twitter profile still describes himself as
"University of Michigan Football Transfer Mississippi State Kicker." - Clarion-Ledger

May 22, 2014 - kicker J.J. McGrathMississippi State's options at kicker may have increased Thursday.
J.J. McGrath, a former Michigan preferred walk-on, tweeted Thursday
afternoon, 'Officially heading down to Starkville to join the
Mississippi State Bulldogs. #HailState.' McGrath did not play for
the Wolverines last year as a freshman. Mississippi State could not
confirm McGrath's tweet nor could a university spokesperson immediately
say if the kicker would even be eligible in the fall.... In the spring coach Dan Mullen named Evan Sobiesk MSU's kicker. As a
freshman Sobiesk competed with Devon Bell. The Bulldogs moved Bell
exclusively to punting, handing Sobiesk the role. 'That's your
job. You're focusing on it. Get your focus on that and go be the guy,'
MSU coach Dan Mullen said. 'That's important. Last year. They get razzed
a lot. But they knew they had my confidence because I see them every
day'." - Clarion-Ledger

March 28, 2014 - spring practice update"Thursday Evan Sobiesk had one of his better days in
practice. He made attempts from 20, 30, 38 and 47 yards. His only miss
at the end of practice came from 42 yards and was wide right. Graves
went 2 for 5. Coach Dan Mullen added pressure to the final kick from 47 yards, with the stipulation of a make meant no sprints. 'We
try to keep them in pressure situations,' Mullen said. 'I think (Sobiek
has) done a pretty good job. You know Wes has a little ways to go.' The
role fell into Sobiesk’s foot when the coaching staff told Devon Bell to
focus primarily on punting. The soon-to-be junior has been outstanding
in the spring. He’s averaged 49 yards a punt with a 4.5 second hang
time." - Clarion LedgerMarch 25, 2014 - spring practice update"Mississippi State spent most of the first
portion of Tuesday’s practice working on special teams. Nearly every
coach was involved. Wind
gusts blew across the field behind the Leo Seal Football complex, but
sophomore Evan Sobiesk and walk-on Westin Graves enjoyed their best day
of the spring. Devon Bell, who has focused primarily on kickoff and punting, remained the only viable punter." - Clarion LedgerFebruary 27, 2014 - kicker Bryce Brown to walk-on"Kicker Bryce Brown from Katy, TX Seven Lakes HS (my HS) will be walking on. 9-11 FG senior year with a long of 44." - EliteDawgsFebruary 5, 2014 - kicker/punter Logan Cooke signs

"Cooke, who was selected to play
in the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American game, becomes the second
Bulldog recruit for the class of 2014 to sign, the school announced
today through a statement on the MSU Football Twitter account. 'Second fax of the day: Logan Cooke, a 6-5, 200-pound kicker/punter from Kokomo, Miss. (Columbia Academy).' #HailState' - MSU Football (@HailStateFB) While Cooke comes in a bit
under the radar due to playing at a small academy, he will most likely
get the opportunity to come in and contribute right away. Nothing is
promised as to Cooke's ability to beat out any of the stalwarts on
special teams this fall, but there seems to be a strong chance that we
could see Logan be an immediate impact guy this fall." - For Whom the Cowbell Tolls